Friday, July 6, 2012

KÁN DIT DUIDELIKER?

The hopelessness of New Labour as a vehicle of
change is underlined by their fixation with “judge-led” inquiries into anything
that crops up. Remember the Hutton whitewash? Will a senior judge really
recommend the fundamental reform of casino banking in the City of London and
the careers of the banking squillionaires he undoubtedly knows so well at his
club, lodge and golf course?

Which of these best describes most senior judges?

a) A fearless crusader for truth and social justice
with unimpeachable morals and the intellectual stringency of a great
philosopher

or

b) A very well paid establishment figure with an
authoritarian streak who got his position from Jack Straw or his predecessors
by very carefully in his career never stepping out of line with the very
powerful.

Frankly, it makes no difference at all whether
politicians or judges conduct the inquiry into banking practices. It’ll be the
same old whitewash. Andrew Tyrie MP happens to be one of the very few
decent people in parliament. But if he does chair the inquiry as Cameron
proposes, be sure the forces of control will rapidly close over his head.

I didn’t
bother to watch the Bob Diamond select committee appearance yesterday. In fact, I have come to terms with the
(to me) shocking fact that I now believe our political system to be so corrupt
that our horribly and increasingly unequal society will eventually, and
rightly, be changed by extra-parliamentary means. Probably not in my lifetime,
but one day. I never imagined I would end up believing that.

The political blogosphere will buzz today with
parliamentary debate on the banks. It seems obvious to me that parliament is
not going to do anything against the financial services paymasters of the
politicians.